"Check me out. Just confidently
strolling through the forest
without a care in the world!
Yep, I am the picture of calm.
There's nothing on my mind
that's totally and completely
worrying me and distracting me ...
and MAKING ME THINK
THAT SOMETHING IS
UTTERLY WRONG!"
What a giggle for little ones! The loose-lipped bear who narrates the story has completed his many morning tasks and is headed out to the forest. He is quite sure that something has been forgotten. Attentive listeners will know right away what he's done; he has forgotten to remove his underwear!
Off Jeff goes, talking constantly without giving his forest friends a chance to respond to his questions and observations. The friends defintely look askance at his attire, but say nothing. As soon as he moves on, they turn to the audience with a question.
"WHY IS THAT BEAR
WEARING UNDERWEAR?"
On he goes, constantly chattering to himself and all readers.
"Just be cool, man. Play it cool.
Just another day. Don't let them
see you sweat. Um, why am I
sweating so much?"
Each new animal friend listens and allows him to leave without mentioning what's wrong. Ultimately, Anders, a rabbit friend, is brave enough to point out to Jeff what has been making him feel so self-conscious. Nothing embarrassing here, he assures. Anders takes the bear by the hand to walk him back home, with hopes of not seeing anyone else. Of course, that doesn't happen! Anders' response to meeting a menagerie of forest friends proves what true friendship really is. It creates quite the chain reaction!
Debut illustrator Erin Kraan does a fabulous job of creating earth-toned moments of confusion, dread and friendly protection. Her forest environs provide a perfect landscape for the well-told and very humorous tale. Full of wide-eyed surprise and feelings of uncertainty, she matches the tone of Jory John's lively telling. I can't wait to read this out loud.
What's not to like in a story about underwear?
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